"Uwa..?" Luigi's eyes rolled lazily in his head, the plumber's head foggy. He couldn't think straight, and felt like he was floating in a sea of nothingness. Looking to his left with half-lidded eyes, he could barely make out a familiar figure. She wore a light green dress with ribbons of brown cascading down her back. Her long brown hair flowed gently down to her waist, where a small bow tied her hair together. She seemed really familiar….hell, the entire foggy dream thing seemed familiar. She began to turn around, but he couldn't make out her face. It looked like she was smiling, but she quickly disappeared. Trying to sit up, Luigi found a light glowing to his right. Rubbing his eyes, he could make out Eldstar waving to him. Trying to swim through the void Luigi was soon floating in front of the wise Star Spirit.
"Eldstar? Is that you?" The old star smiled. Before turning around, a vast ocean appearing in front of Luigi.
"We've found where the next Crystal Key will be. It's somewhere near the waters of Shy Guy Beach. You must find the other keys quickly Luigi! We do not have much time. We also learned that-
"LUIGI!"
"Huh?" Luigi looked around, the entire void he was floating in beginning to shake and bend.
"Please Luigi, find-"
"DUDE! WAKE UP!"
"Wah!" Luigi jolted upright in the hotel bed of Dry Dry Outpost, Parch and Todd staring at him in disbelief.
"Geez, give us a heart attack why don't you, you've been out for nearly an entire day!"
"What?" Luigi looked around. The black void was gone, and the vision of Eldstar had disappeared too. He put a hand to his head. Wasn't there something else in that dream too?
"How are you feeling?" Todd asked. They had dragged him back to Dry Dry Outpost where Moustafa, or rather, Sheik, had helped them bring Luigi back to the hotel. He hadn't stirred for several hours.
"After staying unconscious for nearly two days I'd hope you'd be back on your feet by now…" Parch seemed quite irritated, though why Luigi couldn't tell. His attitude was starting to piss him off though.
"Oi, I've only just recently woken up from a 3-day coma, cut me some slack…." Parch's tenseness seemed to hit its peak before he suddenly slumped behind the plumber onto the bed.
"I…I'm sorry….it's just…." Todd smiled before turning to Luigi.
"He was worried about ya."
"IT WASN'T JUST THAT!" Parch shouted, his bony cheeks lighting up before he turned away.
"Then what else was it?" Luigi asked, his irritation long gone. Parch stared at the ground intently.
"I just….when King Pokey…" He sighed, putting a gloved hand to his head. "I thought we were gonna beat him and have him pay for all the stuff he took, all the lives he ruined….but…." He looked towards the window, remembering the giant monster that appeared from the temple. "That was him, wasn't it…that giant monster that appeared…." Luigi looked down at his hands, thinking about the giant Antlion that had appeared. He wasn't sure if it WAS King Pokey or not…but the chance of him hiding a monster that big was slim. If he knew about it, he would have sent it out after them to begin with, not fight them himself. "And that giant heart that showed up….I wonder if it was his…." He sighed. "It looked so pretty, so big…if he really was a bad guy, wouldn't it have been, like, small and dirty?" He held his head in his hands. "I just don't know…."
Luigi watched the Dry Hammer for a moment before pulling off the covers and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"There's a lot of things we don't know….all we can do is go forward with the information we have. And all we know right now…" He pulled out the Crystal Key they had gotten. "Is that we need six more of these to save the world. So let's focus on that….all right?" He smiled as Parch looked up to him before a loud growling sound echoed from Luigi's stomach. "We also now know that I'm starving….so let's go eat something, yeah?" He grinned, laughing a little as he wiped a finger against his nose. The two in the room began laughing as they all went downstairs.
"So….did anyone…say anything?" Luigi asked the two as they continued eating.
"About what?" Parch asked.
"Uh, the giant monster that popped out of the ground?" Luigi quirked an eyebrow. It was kinda hard to miss.
"No, they all think that it was simply a mirage." Luigi turned around to see Sheik walking into the hotel. He was immediately greeted by an irate plumber sending death glares at him. "I see you are still irritated…"
"Oh no, why would I have ANY reason to be mad at you? How could I POSSIBLY be mad at someone who sent us into a DEATH TRAP without AAAANY warning whatsoever!?" Electricity was once again coursing around the plumber as he ground his teeth in great annoyance. Sheik moved to the other end of the table, opposite of Luigi, coughing in an attempt to move along.
"Err…yes, moving along, I believe its best that you leave without a commotion…it would be better if we could keep this under wraps." He looked behind him, noticing the busy streets. "It would not be wise to cause a commotion in the busy streets of the outpost…"
Luigi didn't stop glaring at him but nodded. "Fine by me. The sooner we get out of here the better." He quickly stood up before heading upstairs to pack up. Sheik sighed.
"He does not forgive easily, does he? Very much different than his brother…" The two turned to Sheik.
"His brother? Luigi has a brother?" Parch asked. The mouse nodded.
"Yes, he is actually quite famous." Sheik held his gaze on the stairway that Luigi had disappeared from. "Perhaps that is why he is the best choice…" Todd and Parch looked at each other.
"What do you mean?" Sheik chuckled as he pulled out a lemon from his cloak, holding it out and staring at it.
"While his brother is always straightforward and easily forgiving, Luigi is not. He is cautious, careful, planning. He does not like surprises, and is always trying to keep out of traps. He is perceptive…something his brother is not." He chuckled as he bit into the lemon.
"But, you said his brother is super famous, but I don't really remember hearing much about Luigi…"
"Have you heard of 'Super Mario'?" Moustafa questioned, taking a small cup of water and bringing it to his mouth.
"Oh yeah!" The two quickly sat up, grins on their faces. "He's traveled all over the world, saving princess Peach and defeating Bowser!" Their grins suddenly faded, their eyes widening. "Wait…so then, Luigi's brother…."
"Is the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom…tell me, have you heard of, 'The Green Thunder', 'Green Stache', or even, 'The man in Green'?." The two nodded. "Because that is the man you are traveling with. He has saved the Mushroom Kingdom several times as well, but why is it that he is rarely remembered?" Parch and Todd looked at each other, confused. Why hadn't his name gotten around more? Everyone and their mother knew Mario, yet Luigi, who was his BROTHER, wasn't really well known. "Princess Peach and the residents of the Mushroom castle know both brothers, but the difference in their personalities is what makes Mario more appealing and is, for lack of better words, publically acceptable."
"What do you mean by that?" Todd asked. Moustafa spun the glass of water on the tip of his tail, tossing it into the air before catching it in his tail.
"Tell me, who would you rather have protect you? A brave hero? Or a cowardly man? A Warrior or a weakling?" Parch and Todd looked at each other before turning back to Moustafa. "While his brother is very cheerful, brave and courageous, Luigi is not quite the same, as I'm sure you've noticed."
"But Luigi's brave too! He fought an enormous heartless and a bunch of other bad guys!"
"And he's helped people too, me included!" Parch glared at Moustafa.
"Yes, he does have courage…TRUE courage. He stands up against horrifying monsters despite shaking like a leaf. But because of his timid nature, people cannot believe in him. He looks as if he would run away at a moment's notice. He acts not like a hero, but a regular person, a citizen if you will." He turned back to the two. "So what would you say if, as the leader of your town, you did not stand up against a monster twice your size, instead backing down in fear. But a child, half your size and a third your age, stood up to the monster and beat it. How would that make you look?"
"Uh…pretty lame?" Todd answered hesitantly. Moustafa nodded.
"It is a matter of pride. The common folk do not want to accept Luigi as a hero because he is too similar to them. It is saying that they do not have the guts to do what he does, even though they all should be the same." He pulled out something from behind him, revealing a Fire Flower. "This is a magical power-up, a Fire Flower. They dot around the entire world, hiding in Item blocks and even in some flower gardens. Nowadays you can even buy them in stores." Todd frowned at him as he stood up, glaring at the mouse.
"Duh! Who doesn't know about them?"
"Then why is it that only Mario and Luigi have stood up and used them to fight evil?" Todd stared at Moustafa in silence, quietly sitting back down. "Without their power-ups, they were just normal people. They weren't heroes, they weren't powerful; they were just average citizens, making a living doing the only thing they knew; plumbing." The Fire Flower began floating up out of his hand before disappearing, Moustafa smiling as a fireball appeared in his hand. "But as they used these magical power-ups more and more, they began to be able to use their powers without the item. They learned to create fireballs on their own." The fireball disappeared. "Luigi is especially unique with this trait." Moustafa smiled as he turned back to the stairs. "In a very short period of time, Luigi learned to not only use Fire, but also Lightning, Ice, as well as stop time."
"HE CAN DO THAT!?" Todd and Parch shouted, their eyes wide. Moustafa smiled.
"There are many abilities he has that he has not shown you yet. And with every magical spell he learns, his power grows ever more. Mario cannot do that. Mario is limited, both in insight and in abilities."
"All right guys, are you all…set?" Luigi walked back into the room, holding three bags, two of which were not his. "What? What are you guys staring at?" Moustafa turned to Luigi, lightly bowing and taking his leave. Luigi stared after the nomadimouse for a moment before turning back to Parch and Todd. "Well? You guys gonna take your stuff?" He held out the bags, Todd grabbing his and Parch staring at Luigi in confusion.
"But I don't have a bag…I left everything at home." Luigi tossed him the smaller, yellow bag.
"And with this you now have stuff again." He smiled. "I also got you a water canteen too, so no more running out of water on me, all right?" He laughed. Parch and Todd looked to each other and smiled.
"I don't know, you don't seem like a normal person." Todd laughed as he headed towards the door, Parch nodding in agreement.
"Wait, what do you mean I'm not a normal person? HEY! GUYS! WHAT WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?" Luigi shouted as he ran after the two.
"Wow, it's been awhile…" Luigi breathed quietly as he took a step into Toad Town. The fires were out, and the amount of hospital tents had diminished a little bit, but it still looked pretty bad. "All right, here." He turned around to Todd and Parch, handing them a few coins. "I need you two to take this to Merlon. Tell him we need transportation to Shy Guy Beach, and if he says he'll need more coins tell him that he'll get them when I show up later." He spun around, heading straight towards the hospital tents.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Todd asked, confused. Luigi turned his head to him.
"I'm going to start trying to help out the hospitals." He then took off at a light run. Todd and Parch looked after him for a moment before beginning their search for Merlon.
"Wow….to think that he's Mario's brother, and I never even knew…." Todd mumbled aloud. Parch merely shook his head.
"He probably didn't want anyone to say anything….you never know if someone is looking for him or his brother." Todd's eyes suddenly shrank.
"Oh crap! That's why he didn't say his name to that buzzard! He must have been looking for him and his brother!" Parch turned to Todd.
"Buzzard?"
"Oh! I never told you! Before I went to the desert me and Luigi got attacked by a giant buzzard! Luigi ended up falling a long way down, but he used lightning on the bird! It was like a pokemon game! It was awesome! The bird went down!" He laughed.
"Oh yeah, he did use lightning at the Oasis….and he also used fire as well…"
"I wonder what other powers he has…"
"Think he can fly?" Parch smiled. Todd laughed.
"Nah, if he could he wouldn't have fallen…" He waved his hand dismissively before stopping. "But, then again, he fell off a mountaintop and made it out without a scratch….so maybe?"
"I bet he can spit acid!" Parch grinned in excitement.
"No way! He probably can set himself on fire!"
"Wouldn't that be a bad thing?"
"Not if he was a human torch!"
"I bet he could turn into a ball!"
"Ooh! Or turn invisible!"
"Or make food appear out of nowhere!"
"Or turn into a cat!"
"Or a fox!"
"What about a snowman?"
"Or a statue!"
"ACHOOO!" Luigi sneezed loudly, rubbing his nose. "Somebody must be talking about me….though I can't tell if that's good or bad…." Luigi shook his head before returning back to the tent in front of him. Three toads and a Koopa Troopa lay on makeshift beds, bandages and casts all around them. He pulled out the Keyblade, and turned to the first Toad on the bed. Closing his eyes he began concentrating on the Toad's heavy breathing. He could feel the swirling emotions of pain, terror and uncertainty flowing throughout his conscious.
"Cure." He whispered, a small glow encompassing the Toad. Within moments he was in peaceful sleep, the pain having disappeared. He continued on to the next set of injured patients and began treating them before moving onto the next tent. A doctor walked into the tent only to find his injured patients were sleeping peacefully. He quickly ran over to the nearest Toad and slowly unwrapped his bandages to find the scars and wounds completely gone. Scurrying over to each patient, he found all of them fully healed.
"What…what is this!?" He quickly ran outside, looking around for anyone out of place. "WHO LAST WENT INTO THIS TENT!? THEY'RE CURED! DID SOMEONE FIND A SUPPLY OF EXTRA LIVES!?" A small crowd quickly formed around him, the group gossiping as to how four injured had suddenly been healed.
"MY INJURIES! THEY'RE HEALED!" A voice suddenly shouted from another tent. The group of gossipers quickly ran over to the tent before crashing into someone. Looking up, the group of Toads and Koopas found themselves on top of Luigi.
"Can't….breathe…" The plumber wheezed under the pile on top of him.
"Luigi! You're back!" They then looked up to find three more injured patients standing up and walking around.
"AGAIN! These three were heavily injured! How are they…" A Koopa Troopa looked down. "Wait, did YOU do this Luigi!?" Luigi slowly pushed the group off of him before standing up.
"Sorry, I can't talk right now." He walked out of the tent, continuing on to the next one.
"Nonononono, no I can't possibly go there! It's WAAAY too dangerous!" Luigi, Parch, Todd and Merlon stood in front of the ferry driver of Toad Town, who was shaking in sheer terror.
"Uh, why would it be dangerous? Shy Guys?" Luigi laughed nervously. The last time he had gone to Shy Guy Beach was when Mario had decided it would be a good place to Kart Race. And the only real problem they had was trying not to hit crabs….and the Shy Guy pirates. Yeah, those guys kept shooting cannonballs at them.
"Yeah, those guys are one problem…" The captain of the S.S. Peeko nodded. "But it's the bloopers you gotta watch out for!" He suddenly began panicking again. "They're attacking the shores relentlessly! You can't walk down the beach without getting attacked by some! Most who try end up blinded for the next week from all the ink shot in their eyes!" He then shivered. "And also…there's that rumor…." Luigi, who was already shaking, tensed. "That horrible….terrifying rumor…."
Nobody ask. PLEASE nobody ask what the rumor-
"What kind of rumor?" Merlon asked non-chalantly.
DAMMIT YOU OLD STAR FART!
Luigi was sending horrified death glares in the direction of the oblivious Star reader as the Captain looked out towards the sea. "The rumor….that something big has happened to Big Blooper…" Luigi's eyes widened, quickly spinning back to the captain.
"Wait, that enormous Blooper whose kinda like the king of that area?" Mario had fought against Big Blooper before, but they had also asked him to help them out for some of their party games. His wife and son had also played with them in some of their Mario Parties, moving them from one side of the playing field to another. Luigi suddenly furrowed his brow. "All right. Take us there."
"Say WHAT!?" The group suddenly shouted, shocked at Luigi.
"Wait, weren't you just shaking about all the warnings I gave you!?" The captain asked in shock.
"Yeah…." Luigi clenched his fist. "But this just got personal. Big Blooper isn't really a bad guy…and I've even met him and his family before. If something happened to him, I need to do something." He focused his glare onto the captain. "Name your price and it's done."
The old captain looked at Luigi in shock. He was quivering like a child mere moments ago, and now….he kind of looked like…
"Heh, I just can't keep you brothers out of harm's way, can I?" He smirked as he shook his head, Luigi blinking in surprise. "All right. I'll take you there."
"Really?" Luigi smiled, his face brightening by the moment.
"But make sure you grab some goggles or something. Can't have you boys going blind on the beach now can I?"
"You got it!" Luigi grinned, glaring towards the horizon in confidence.